PRONI Stakeholder forum meeting notes, including the new on site PRONI catalogue

I'm just out of the latest PRONI (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) stakeholder forum meeting, chaired by Stephen Scarth, who reflected both on current developments and on the most extraordinary year for the archive experienced in many a year, with it celebrating its centenary as Northern Ireland's national archive.

The big topical news item was a presentation by Janet Hancock on PRONI's new onsite Axiel based catalogue system, which it is hoped will be rolled out in the search room in January/February, pending some last minute tweaks. This will replace the current Calm based system, as a more modern catalogue system, with additional functionality. Some key points:

• To log in you will need to use the details on your visitor pass (which you would currently use to order up specific items to consult on site). If you arrive for the first time at PRONI and get a user pass, you should be able to access the new catalogue system straight away. I did also ask about a scenario where someone might forget to bring a pass (it's happened to me once, travelling from Scotland!), and how might someone gain access then? I was advised that that is something they will still need to look at in terms of offering full search functionality (e.g. digital records) - for the moment, just make sure you bring your pass!
• When you perform a search in the catalogue, results will be displayed with an option to view the archival hierarchy within which an item sits (i.e. the piece, the folio, etc). 
• There will be some ability to filter results - for example, to only orderable items, to digital only items, to entries that can only be viewed at a table ("Table") or those on microfilm ("Booth").
• As is the current limit, a maximum of five entries can be lifted out at a time, but once you return them a further five can be ordered, and so on. 
• If an item is already out, this will be identified.
• There is a separate "Request a Will" screen, to allow you to order up copies of historic wills on site, but this remains based on the current calendar set up from 1858-1965. (The suggested update to this calendar may still be some time off due to other pressures on PRONI just now)
  

The online PRONI catalogue will remain the same, and any updates to the onsite Axiel system will be immediately available online, within the restrictions of the online system (e.g. you can't view some digitial items online, such as church records).

From what I have seen, the new Axiel system does look considerably more user friendly, with the current Calm system being very much an archivist's catalogue. A genie colleague, Gillian Hunt, asked if this would be rolled online at any stage, and the short answer is no. Down the line it is possible that the online catalogue may well be looked at as a separate exercise, but it is not on the cards for now.   

Stephen then gave a round up of PRONI's activites this year. From the Good Friday Agreement going on tour around the Province (on loan from TNA in England), and the archive's attendance at the Balmoral Show for the first time in eight years, to centenary celebration events for both the public and staff, at which comedian Tim McGarry's description of the archive will forever go down in history (if not in this blog post, for those of a sensitive disposition!), it has been one hell of a year for PRONI. Amongst other big events there was the Archives and Records Assopciaiton (ARA) Conference at the end of August/start of September (first time in Belfast since 2007, with 300 attendees, all well filled with curry!), a first ever royal visit (from the Duke of Gloucester), and with more to come, including a carol service at PRONI next week, at which a song celebrating the archive's centenary will be performed, amongst others.

PRONI has learned a lot from this year that it intends to take forward for future themed years (and for which we had a brief preview of subjects), including the coherence of a branded programme, effective messaging to partners and paymasters, strengths and weaknesses of social media, the importance of partnerships and collaborations, and much more. There will also be a book next year looking at PRONI's one hundred years, and ongoing articles and press coverage of PRONI's activities (including a forthcoming article on the history of PRONI in the next Familia journal from the Ulster Historical Foundation, and an article by yours truly in the next edition of WDYTYA magazine). I commented that from here in Scotland, we can only look on in envy at how all of this can be done, a lesson that other facilities can easily be inspired by, and learn from in terms of best practice.    

Congratulations to PRONI, and here's to the next century! 

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

British Library data hack

An email that I have just received from the British Library (www.bl.uk), which I have received as someone who has subscribed to its Public Lending Rights scheme:

Important information about your data

You're being contacted because you have previously registered for the Public Lending Right scheme, which is administrated by the British Library.

You may have heard reports recently about a cyber-attack on the British Library, or read updates from us about this incident. We would like to make sure that you have the facts about what happened, what information is involved and the steps that we are taking to protect you.

What happened?
On 28 October 2023 we became aware of a cyber-attack that resulted in loss of access to the majority of our online systems. We took immediate action to secure our network from further attack. However, it had already caused damage to our data and systems, and we are still working with cybersecurity specialists to restore them. Having recently confirmed that this was a ransomware attack, we have now discovered evidence that the attackers are also likely to have copied some user data.

What information was involved?
Information from our internal management databases appear to have been accessed and copied. These contain the name, postal address and email address of many of our users, including PLR customers. If you support or use the Library in other ways you may receive a separate notification about other information that we hold about you.

There is currently no evidence that copies of passports or other identity documents used during PLR registration were compromised in the attack. We’re continuing to investigate the full extent of this incident and will update you when we know more.

What are we doing?
We are continuing to work with cybersecurity specialists to review the security of the rest of our systems, and to safely restore our services as soon as we can. We have already implemented additional security measures to defend against future attacks.

We are writing to all of our customers who may potentially be affected by this cyber-attack, so that you may take additional precautions to protect yourself. We have also notified the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that it is likely that our customer data has been affected.

What can you do?
As a precaution we recommend changing any password on other online services that you may have used on our systems. If you have not already done so you should take this action immediately. The NCSC provides guidance on staying safe online, as well as specific guidance for individuals who may have been impacted by a data breach.
 
Over the coming months you should also be particularly alert for phishing emails and scam phone calls or text messages. The NCSC also offers advice on how to spot these types of attack.  

Answering your questions
We’re really sorry, we know this email will be unsettling news to receive. Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re putting all our available resources into investigating this incident and restoring our systems and the full range of our services. We hope that the above information gives you a clearer picture of the situation as it stands, as well as practical guidance that you can follow to ensure you stay safe online.

If you have any questions you can email us at plrauthorservices@bl.uk. Alternatively, you can contact our Data Protection Officer at data.governance@bl.uk.  

We will also continue to provide regular updates through social media, our blog and a temporary web page we’ve set up.

Thank you for your understanding and patience at this time. 

You can find more about the cyber attack on the Library's website at www.bl.uk, and via the BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67544504.

The following message is also available on the Public Lending Rights page at https://plr.bl.uk/login, with log-ins temporarily suspended:

The British Library is continuing to experience a major technology outage, as a result of a cyber-attack. The outage is affecting our website, online systems and services. We anticipate restoring many services in the next few weeks, but some disruption may persist for longer. We have now confirmed that this was a ransomware attack, by a group known for such criminal activity. We are aware that some data has been leaked, which appears to be from files relating to our internal HR information. We have no evidence that wider user data has been compromised. However, we are recommending as a precautionary measure that if users have a password for British Library services that they also use elsewhere, they should change it. The National Cyber Security Centre provides guidance on creating a secure password: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/top-tips-for-staying-secure-online/three-random-words . We have taken targeted protective measures to ensure the integrity of our systems, and we continue to undertake an investigation with the support of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Metropolitan Police and cybersecurity specialists. As this investigation remains ongoing, we cannot provide further details at this time.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Scottish Indexes adds major update to prison register records collection

From Scottish Indexes (www.scottishindexes.com):

Search over half a million prison register entries on scottishindexes.com
Discover the hidden lives of your ancestors

Scottish Indexes have reached a major milestone in their Scottish prison register indexing project. With the release of a further 180,000 prison register entries at the Scottish Indexes Conference on Saturday you can now search over half a million records from 38 Scottish prisons. Search Scotland's Criminal Database: https://www.scottishindexes.com/ScotlandsCriminalDatabase.aspx

These records are vital to exploring the stories behind our family history as well as overcoming brick walls to our research. Emma Maxwell, genealogist at Scottish Indexes, says “The census is a snapshot in time, but what happened to our ancestors on all the other days? Prison records can be a key to discovering more. For example, we may find a description of our ancestor’s tattoos or scars.”

Genealogist Graham Maxwell says “The key information given in a prison register to identify the inmate is now very useful for our research projects. While the census may give a place of birthplace of ‘Ireland’ or ‘ England’ a prison register may give us the specific county or parish. If our ancestor died before 1851 the birthplace and age could be the vital clues we need.”

Aliases and alternative surnames are given in the prison register. It could be that someone used a name to try to avoid the law but we also see multiple surnames recorded for other people. Married women usually have their maiden and married surnames included. Inmates who were illegitimate may be recorded under their biological father's name as well as their mother’s surname.

About Scottish Indexes: The indexes on scottishindexes.com are free to search and the website is managed by husband and wife team, Graham and Emma Maxwell. As well as criminal records you can search the Scottish Paternity Index, Mental Health Records, Court of Session Index and more. 

NB: The next Scottish Indexes conference will be on 13 JAN 2024.

(With thanks to Emma Maxwell)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS research centre and library in Partick

Following my post last week asking if Scotland's family history communities are developing 'Long Zoom' (http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2023/11/is-scotlands-family-history-community.html), i.e. a fear of returning to in-person meetings alongside the convenience of holding meetings via Zoom for overseas attendees, I had an interesting response from Murray Archer, minutes secretary of the Glasgow and West of Scotland FHS, who outlined several factors making it difficult for a return to in-person gatherings. These include the escalated costs to hire venues in the last few years, diminishing numbers of attendees, and pandemic induced concerns. But one thing Murray also mentioned was that members of the society, and indeed the public, are always welcome to visit the society's research centre and library premises in Partick to carry out research, or indeed, to just pop in for a cup of tea! 

You can find details of the society research centre's opening hours at https://www.gwsfhs.org.uk/about/research-centre/, and remember that the centre is also now an affiliate centre for FamilySearch (see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2023/05/familysearch-access-at-glasgow-and-west.html).

(With thanks to Murray Archer)

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Scottish Indexes conference schedule for Saturday, 25th November 2023

The following is the UK time zone talks and events schedule for next Saturday's Scottish Indexes conference, arranged by Graham and Emma Maxwell:

Saturday 25 November 2023
● All times given in this schedule are UK time (GMT).
● Each presentation will be followed by a live Q&A with our experts.
● This event is free. To register for the event via Zoom, and/or to donate, please go to www.scottishindexes.com.
● Presentations are shown twice, allowing you to come and go throughout the day and watch the presentations at a time of day that works for you. Scroll down to ‘Second Session’ to view the times for the second showing of each presentation.
● When you join on Zoom, you will not be visible on camera.

First Session
07:00 Introduction
07:15 ‘Edinburgh City Archives’ by Ashleigh Thompson
08:15 ‘Medical Matters: discover the wealth of information that hospital and asylum
records hold’ by Caroline Brown
09:15 ‘Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records’ by Chris Paton
10:30 'Getting the best from the NLS maps website for family history research' by Chris
Fleet
11:30 ‘Placenames’ by Lorna Steele-McGinn
12:30 Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell
13:30 ‘The ‘peculiar position’ of housing the farm worker (1900-25)’ by Kay Williams
14:40 ‘What’s New at Scottish Indexes’ by Graham Maxwell

Second Session
15:00 Introduction
15:15 ‘Edinburgh City Archives’ by Ashleigh Thompson
16:15 ‘Medical Matters: discover the wealth of information that hospital and asylum
records hold’ by Caroline Brown
17:15 ‘Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records’ by Chris Paton
18:30 'Getting the best from the NLS maps website for family history research' by Chris
Fleet
19:30 ‘Placenames’ by Lorna Steele-McGinn
20:30 Genealogy Q & A hosted by Graham and Emma Maxwell
21:30 ‘The ‘peculiar position’ of housing the farm worker (1900-25)’ by Kay Williams
22:40 ‘What’s New at Scottish Indexes’ by Graham Maxwell 

For equivalent worldwide time zone schedules, please visit www.scottishindexes.com. 

I look forward, with my colleagues, to answering some of your questions there!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Carrick Times joins the British Newspaper Archive

Well now I feel old - I've just found a mention of myself on the British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) in the Carrick Times and East Antrim Times, from a school prize-giving event in Carrickfergus in 1989!

The newspaper has been added from 1987-1999, and I have been merrily plugging away at it for the last hour, finding all sorts of information about my family, including several photos of my father (pictured below, right), sister and aunt. I actually moved to England in 1991, and so it's great to see reportage of various things my father was involved in both politically and through work for the period after I left.

Thanks you BNA - and any chance of pre-1987 editions going online at any stage?

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

English and Welsh death records 1837-1957 now available online

It's now possibe to view English and Welsh death records online from 1837-1957, via the two countries;' General Register Office website at https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp, with each costing £2.50 for access to an online image of the record required. This is an expansion from the previously available 1837-1922 provision.

Have fun!

(NB: At the time of writing I am unable to get in, I suspect there is a temporary glitch with too many folk trying to gain access!)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Ulster Historical Foundation Australian Tour - Queensland

I have been asked by Queensland Family History Society (www.qfhs.org.au) to share the following event news for those carrying out Irish research in Australia:

Ulster Historical Foundation Australian Tour - Queensland
Fri, 16 Feb 2024 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM AEST

Venue: Kedron-Wavell Services Club,21 Kittyhawk Drive Chermside, QLD 4032 Australia

Advance your knowledge of Irish research at this very special morning featuring guests from the Ulster Historical Foundation. This event is your gateway to tracing your roots, connecting with your ancestors, and embracing your unique heritage.

We have an early bird special which ends 10pm Brisbane time 11 December.

The talks are:

• Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research
• The importance of gravestone inscriptions and funerary monuments in Irish research
• Irish education and school records: the records of the National Education system
• Getting the most out of Griffith’s Valuation

Speakers:

Fintan Mullan is the Executive Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation. A pioneer in the creation of online resources for Irish research Fintan has maintained the Foundation’s prominence in digital database developments for Irish genealogy. He has also managed the production of over 100 publications, including the popular Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors, and has lectured extensively on Irish history and genealogy in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Gillian Hunt is the Research Officer with the Ulster Historical Foundation and is responsible for managing the Foundation's many genealogical activities. Gillian also carries out research for clients and is a hugely experienced user of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the General Register Office. She regularly teaches courses and gives talks on family history in the rest of Ireland.

For further details, and the link to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ulster-historical-foundation-australian-tour-queensland-tickets-747878965117?aff=oddtdtcreator

(With thanks to Alex Daw)

Chris 

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

TheGenealogist adds 1.6 million records to commemorate Remembrance

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

Remembering the fallen with more than 1.6 million newly released records

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday in the UK, when we remember the two world wars and later conflicts, TheGenealogist is marking Armistice Day by adding to its collection of Military records.

This release of over 40,000 Rolls of Honour, over 65,000 Medal awards and over 1.5 Million War Memorial Records significantly adds to the suite of fully searchable Military records on this family history website.

The new War Memorials can be searched from the TheGenealogist’s Master Search or by locating the memorial on the georeferenced maps displayed on their Map Explorer, which also lets you search the area around where your ancestor lived.

For those with ancestors who were mariners and served in the Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets, the Rolls of Honour and Medal Awards from The National Archives Series BT 339 will be especially poignant.

The Rolls of Honour name the deceased and missing-presumed-dead from the ranks of the merchant marine fleets and fishing trawler crews who were employed on minesweeping and patrol duties during World War II (1939-1945) and further years up to 1953.

The list of Medal Awards from 1866 to 1970 includes Mercantile Mariners recognised for gallantry and service. Among these honours is the Albert Medal, initially awarded for saving lives at sea.

Additionally, the Mercantile Marine Officers Nominal List 1916-1920 records recipients of the Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Service Medal, along with issues of the London Gazette listing many other medals (such as the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and Commendations) citing the deeds of gallantry these Mercantile Marines performed. The images of these records include the details of these deeds, some of which reveal intriguing stories of shipwrecks, shark attacks and gallant heroes.

Read TheGenealogist’s feature article: Rolls of Honour for Unsung Heroes of the Rolling Sea
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2023/rolls-of-honour-reveal-unsung-heroes-of-the-rolling-sea-6860/

* SCOTTISH GENES READER OFFER 

TheGenealogist is also offering Scottish GENES readers a Diamond Subscription for the price of a Gold plus a free gift! For just £98.95 this Diamond Annual Subscription will renew at the same discount price every year that you stay with them! To sign up visit https://thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBMR1123 

Offer expires 10/12/2023.

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

FindmyPast adds First World War Campaign Medal record transcriptions

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added the following collection:

Britain, First World War Campaign Medals

This week's biggest addition comes in the form of a brand-new collection of British First World War Campaign Medals, containing a grand total of 6,527,684 detail-rich records.

This set of transcriptions contains the names of millions of men and women who were awarded campaign medals for overseas service in the First World War. From RAF personnel to medical volunteers and labourers, all manner of heroic stories are contained within this fascinating set.

With women's names also included, this collection enables us to fully understand the sacrifices made by all members of society - even those who didn't serve as soldiers on the front. 

For further details visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/crimean-war-campaign-medals-hospital-records

Comment: The following is the card for my great grandfather William McKeever Smyth:

Compared to the original medal index cards I had found for him:

The transcript is accurate, an may certainly help with some cards that I have seen which are busier and almost impossible to decipher!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.